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Dec 27, 2012
12/12
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the democrats are wasting no time in the event harry reid needs the vote to avert the fiscal cliff. but the house? a different story. speaker john boehner held a conference call with republican leadership today, and basically decided to do nothing. there are no immediate plans to return to washington. even as that decision is made, how members have 48 hours to get there. house republican leadership released a statement today reading in part, the house has acted on two bills which collectively would avert the entire fiscal cliff if enacted. those bills await action by the senate if the senate will not approve and send them to the president to be signed into law in their current form. they must be amended and returned to the house. the house will take this action on whatever the senate can pass, but the senate must first act. the house has passed bills that would never pass the senate. speaker boehner's position is a joke. senate majority leader harry reid responded, house republicans pushed middle class families closer to the blip by wasting an entire week with their incompetent plan
the democrats are wasting no time in the event harry reid needs the vote to avert the fiscal cliff. but the house? a different story. speaker john boehner held a conference call with republican leadership today, and basically decided to do nothing. there are no immediate plans to return to washington. even as that decision is made, how members have 48 hours to get there. house republican leadership released a statement today reading in part, the house has acted on two bills which collectively...
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Dec 5, 2012
12/12
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senate majority leader harry reid wants three changes to the filibuster. they would make debates public and provide a shorter timeframe for breaking filibusters. these are minor reforms and the filibuster can still be used. republican minority leader mitch mcconnell railed against the changed earlier today. he said they were an effort to marginalize the minority party. harry reid hit right back atd the gentleman from kentucky and referenced this comment senator john mccain made on monday. >> mr. chairman, i again apologized for what seems to have happened and much to my dismay it lends some credence to the argument that we ought not to do business the way that we are doing here in the the united states senate. >> senator john mccain was blaming rand paul of kentucky for holding up amendments on the defense authorization bill. in the process, mccain gave credence to filibuster reform. his comments step all over mitch mcconnell's claim. it's not an effort to marginalize the minority party. with 386 filibusters from republicans, these rule changes are simply
senate majority leader harry reid wants three changes to the filibuster. they would make debates public and provide a shorter timeframe for breaking filibusters. these are minor reforms and the filibuster can still be used. republican minority leader mitch mcconnell railed against the changed earlier today. he said they were an effort to marginalize the minority party. harry reid hit right back atd the gentleman from kentucky and referenced this comment senator john mccain made on monday....
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Dec 29, 2012
12/12
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i have a lot of confidence in harry reid's negotiating ability. mitch mcconnell is a veteran negotiator, and i think there's a far better prospect of something being worked out in the senate than there was dealing with speaker boehner and his completely dysfunctional house republican party. >> sure. well, abiding by convention and of course protocol, the senate won't return until sunday. will there be enough time for the senate leaders to really craft a deal that is substantiative and makes a difference, especially to the most vulnerable americans? >> yeah, i think the two keys that the president laid out are to protect middle class americans from tax increases and to protect families that haven't been able to get back in the workforce have having their unemployment insurance cut off. and if those two things can be done, a lot of the rest can be worked in in the weeks and days to come. we have other deadlines coming up for the debt limit and for the end of the continuing resolution, so i think this is likely to be a bit of a continuing process. bu
i have a lot of confidence in harry reid's negotiating ability. mitch mcconnell is a veteran negotiator, and i think there's a far better prospect of something being worked out in the senate than there was dealing with speaker boehner and his completely dysfunctional house republican party. >> sure. well, abiding by convention and of course protocol, the senate won't return until sunday. will there be enough time for the senate leaders to really craft a deal that is substantiative and...
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Dec 22, 2012
12/12
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harry reid passed it back in july, and republicans refused to vote on it. boehner, why don't you vote on that? the time for complaining about this deal, totally over. >> nobody can get 100% of what they want, and this is not simply a contest between parties in terms of who looks good and who doesn't. >> don't you think republicans need to be careful about pushing back on this for the good of the country? if no deal is struck this year, president obama, what does he have? well, he's got the inauguration coming up. a big platform. he's got the state of the union address coming up. a big platform. he is going to have a better chance to have the american people on his side. president obama urged all members of congress to get some perspective over the holiday weekend on this. >> everybody can cool off. everybody can drink some eggnog, have some christmas cookies, sing some christmas carols, enjoy the company of loved ones, and then i'd ask every member of congress while they're back home to think about that. think about the obligations we have to the people who
harry reid passed it back in july, and republicans refused to vote on it. boehner, why don't you vote on that? the time for complaining about this deal, totally over. >> nobody can get 100% of what they want, and this is not simply a contest between parties in terms of who looks good and who doesn't. >> don't you think republicans need to be careful about pushing back on this for the good of the country? if no deal is struck this year, president obama, what does he have? well, he's...
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Dec 21, 2012
12/12
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these are gyrations i've never seen before. >> of course harry reid's from vegas. he knows all about gyrations. senator dick durbin says today's actions by republicans remind him of something else. >> remember the closing scene in "thelma & louise"? rather than face the reality of what lies ahead, they hit the gas. that's what we're hearing from speaker boehner now. hit the gas. and go over the cliff. >> the entire republican party is in this car right now, and they are flying off the side of the cliff. that can't be good. that was a commercial, too, wasn't it? a guy in the back of a truck. white house spokesman jay carney had a different movie in mind today. republicans need a superhero to save them from this mess they're in. >> the republicans in the house have decided to run down an alley that has no exit. what i'm confident of is that they don't have at the end of that alley a bat plane to fly out to their own rescue. do you remember that scene? it was good. a good scene. >> does the president have a batplane? >> i can't talk about that. it's classified. >> joi
these are gyrations i've never seen before. >> of course harry reid's from vegas. he knows all about gyrations. senator dick durbin says today's actions by republicans remind him of something else. >> remember the closing scene in "thelma & louise"? rather than face the reality of what lies ahead, they hit the gas. that's what we're hearing from speaker boehner now. hit the gas. and go over the cliff. >> the entire republican party is in this car right now, and...
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Dec 1, 2012
12/12
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harry reid wants the following changes. senators can't filibuster a debate. he wants a shorter time to break a filibuster. and he wants senators to speak out about their filibuster in public. these are not drastic changes. this isn't going to roll the senate over. the filibuster would still be a tool. but house speaker john boehner is now involved. he issued this threat. any bill that reaches a republican-led house based on senate democrats' heavy-handed power play would be dead on arrival. isn't it amazing how they get along? this proves that boehner's do-nothing congress isn't concerned about moving the country forward. he will hold -- he will hold the american people hostage in a legislative process to just block everything he possibly can. to stop president obama's agenda, is that what america wants? i don't think so. let's bring in john nichols, washington correspondent. good to have you with us tonight. there seems to be more and more conversation about this. let me play devil's advocate. why do this? why not let the republicans continue to filibuster a
harry reid wants the following changes. senators can't filibuster a debate. he wants a shorter time to break a filibuster. and he wants senators to speak out about their filibuster in public. these are not drastic changes. this isn't going to roll the senate over. the filibuster would still be a tool. but house speaker john boehner is now involved. he issued this threat. any bill that reaches a republican-led house based on senate democrats' heavy-handed power play would be dead on arrival....
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Dec 6, 2012
12/12
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. >> senate majority leader harry reid has also called republicans out for sabotaging the democratic process. now, putting this all into context, he tweeted out today, harry reid did, "i share the frustration of americans lamenting the lack of progress in negotiations to avoid a massive tax increase on middle class families. but for insight into why negotiations have been tough, consider the failure of the disabilities treaty at the hands of the tea party. those are the same republicans with whom democrats are supposed to find agreement to protect middle class families from a january 1st tax increase?" who could say it better? democrats are not being unreasonable here whatsoever. they are the party of reason right now. the people have spoken. house democratic whip steny hoyer says democrats are still willing to talk with republicans about entitlement reforms. they've been on the table for some period of time. that does not mean that i'd be prepared to adopt them now. but they're clearly, i think, on the table. republicans don't want to talk about entitlement reforms. you see, they ju
. >> senate majority leader harry reid has also called republicans out for sabotaging the democratic process. now, putting this all into context, he tweeted out today, harry reid did, "i share the frustration of americans lamenting the lack of progress in negotiations to avoid a massive tax increase on middle class families. but for insight into why negotiations have been tough, consider the failure of the disabilities treaty at the hands of the tea party. those are the same...
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Dec 18, 2012
12/12
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harry reid said we're not doing enough to protect our citizens. he said, every idea should be on the table. senator warner told "the washington post," there's got to be a way to put reasonable restricts, particularly as we look at assault weapons as we look at these fast clip of ammunition. senator manchin is one of the nra's brightest stars on capitol hill. the nra endorsed him at the 2010 west virginia senate race. manchin ran a campaign ad where he fired a bill through the cap and trade bill. >> i think this is time for us to sit down and move in a responsible manner and i think they will. if dianne is saying assault weapons, i don't know anyone in the sporting arena that needs that for hunting. >> it's frustrating to know that we've been down here before. a 1989 school shooting in stockton, california, led to the first assault weapons ban in the nation. five years later, a federal ban was adopted by congress. here we are, no ban is in place today. the gun industry just couldn't be happier or more profitable and no ban is there. so they can giv
harry reid said we're not doing enough to protect our citizens. he said, every idea should be on the table. senator warner told "the washington post," there's got to be a way to put reasonable restricts, particularly as we look at assault weapons as we look at these fast clip of ammunition. senator manchin is one of the nra's brightest stars on capitol hill. the nra endorsed him at the 2010 west virginia senate race. manchin ran a campaign ad where he fired a bill through the cap and...
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Dec 12, 2012
12/12
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. >> harry reid now says it's going to be awful hard to reach a deal by christmas. where is this all heading, in your opinion? >> the republicans are in total disarray. i think john boehner went to the floor today to encourage his -- or to placate his tea party people saying the real answer is in more cuts and the president has to be clear about the cuts, which as you said, and pointed out, that we have been very explicit about that. i think it's going to be very hard for us at the end of the day and the end of the day is december 31, to come up with a final deal. and i think it only gets worse for the republicans. look, they want us to cut medicare and entitlements have to be on the table. as if there is an equivalency between the richest americans paying a bit more and asking senior who make $20,000 a year to pay more. really? >> congresswoman, isn't this a time where liberals in congress have to hold the line? there's rumors going around from medicare age going from 65 to 67, there might be some benefit cuts in here. the fact is, there's a lot of lawmakers on cap
. >> harry reid now says it's going to be awful hard to reach a deal by christmas. where is this all heading, in your opinion? >> the republicans are in total disarray. i think john boehner went to the floor today to encourage his -- or to placate his tea party people saying the real answer is in more cuts and the president has to be clear about the cuts, which as you said, and pointed out, that we have been very explicit about that. i think it's going to be very hard for us at the...
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Dec 8, 2012
12/12
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harry reid called his bluff and objected to putting the bill up for a vote, but after discussing it with his democratic members he got the support he needed and had a change of heart. claire mccaskill was priding when mcconnell objected to voting on the bill. >> is there an objection to the original request? >> objection is heard. i got whiplash. >> very strange. >> dick durbin reacted to mcconnell's move moments later. >> so this may be a moment in senate history when a senator made a proposal and when given an opportunity for a vote, filibustered his own proposal. i think we have now reached a new spot in the history of the senate we have never seen before. >> let's turn to bernie sanders. i'm laughing at it too, senator. this just goes to show either winging it big time. they don't have a plan other than to get in the way. what's your response to what unfolded on the floor and what we can look forward to in the future? >> i think dick durbin was right. in a time of dysfunctionality, this probably takes the cake when you filibuster your own probably. but the bottom line, this country,
harry reid called his bluff and objected to putting the bill up for a vote, but after discussing it with his democratic members he got the support he needed and had a change of heart. claire mccaskill was priding when mcconnell objected to voting on the bill. >> is there an objection to the original request? >> objection is heard. i got whiplash. >> very strange. >> dick durbin reacted to mcconnell's move moments later. >> so this may be a moment in senate history...
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Dec 18, 2012
12/12
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senator harry reid of nevada has received some stellar grades from the national rifle association, despite being democrats. he said every idea should be on the table. senator warner told the washington post there's got to be a way to put reasonable ideas on the table. senator manchin is one of the nra's brightest stars on capitol hill. the nra endorsed him in his 2010 west virginia senate race. manchin filled a campaign ad where he filed a bullet through the copy of the cap and trade bill. now manchin is open to the snat tor's bill. >> i believe it's time for all of us to sit down and look at the bill. if diane is saying basically assault weapons, i don't know anyone in the sporting or hunting arena that goes out with an assault rifle. i don't know anybody that needs 30 rounds in a clip to go hunting. >> okay, it's encouraging to see so many lawmakers speaking forcely about the need for change. but it's frustrating to know that we've been down this road before, a 1989 -- 1989 -- shooting led to the first assault weapons ban. but here we are. no ban is in place today. the kbun industry coul
senator harry reid of nevada has received some stellar grades from the national rifle association, despite being democrats. he said every idea should be on the table. senator warner told the washington post there's got to be a way to put reasonable ideas on the table. senator manchin is one of the nra's brightest stars on capitol hill. the nra endorsed him in his 2010 west virginia senate race. manchin filled a campaign ad where he filed a bullet through the copy of the cap and trade bill. now...
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Dec 20, 2012
12/12
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senate majority leader harry reid and mitch mcconnell wrote this. the film depicts the good which is attained when public servants put the betterment of the country ahead of short-term political interests. we believe that viewing this film would provide all senators with a positive opportunity to gather and reflect during the holiday season. the movie's themes should hit pretty close to home, don't you think, for senators still struggling to find common ground on the brink of this fiscal cliff we're talking about. bitter partisan divide, gridlock. the clock is ticking. but lincoln offers us a powerful message about democracy. the question is will the senate be moved by this movie? the way the rest of america has been moved by this production? will it shake their sensibilities in the senate to compel them to compromise for the good of their constituents and the country? let's hope this movie night inspires the party of lincoln to quit voting against the interests of the american people. i hope it works. tonight in our survey, i asked you, will republ
senate majority leader harry reid and mitch mcconnell wrote this. the film depicts the good which is attained when public servants put the betterment of the country ahead of short-term political interests. we believe that viewing this film would provide all senators with a positive opportunity to gather and reflect during the holiday season. the movie's themes should hit pretty close to home, don't you think, for senators still struggling to find common ground on the brink of this fiscal cliff...
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Dec 7, 2012
12/12
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majority leader harry reid called him on it, called his bluff. then mcconnell filibustered his own bill. here's senator dick durbin. >> so this may be a moment in senate history when a senator made a proposal and when given an opportunity for a vote on that proposal filibustered his own proposal. i think we have now reached a new spot in the history of the senate we've never seen before. >> congressman, proof positive they have winging it. >> well, look, the senate and house republicans are just tieing themselves up in all sorts of knots. this is the latest evidence of this. this is known now as the mcconnell rule. and now he wants to distance himself and disassociate himself with it. you know, his name is attached to it. he thought of this idea. and what the president has said is, you know, it was a good idea then, senator mcconnell, let's continue to live with it, let's extend it. and as you know, all we're doing with the debt ceiling is saying that the united states will pay the obligations that the congress has already voted on. >> sure. >> s
majority leader harry reid called him on it, called his bluff. then mcconnell filibustered his own bill. here's senator dick durbin. >> so this may be a moment in senate history when a senator made a proposal and when given an opportunity for a vote on that proposal filibustered his own proposal. i think we have now reached a new spot in the history of the senate we've never seen before. >> congressman, proof positive they have winging it. >> well, look, the senate and house...
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Dec 28, 2012
12/12
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senate majority leader harry reid took to the senate floor this morning to, shall we say, let boehner have it. >> if we go over the cliff, and it looks like that's where we're headed, mr. president, the house of representatives as we speak, with four days left after today before the first of the year aren't here with the speaker having told them they'll have -- they'll give them 48 hours' notice. the american people i don't think understand the house of representatives is operating without the house of representatives. it's being operated with a dictatorship of the speaker, not allowing the vast majority of the house of representatives to get what they want. >> lo and behold, the markets started to tank, in part on fears of reid's warning that it looked like we were going over the cliff. within an hour word came that the house would return to washington and be in session on sunday at 6:30 p.m. boehner repeated his assertion that the senate would pass the two bills that the house has already acted on and included an extension of all the bush tax cuts, something that has zero chance of
senate majority leader harry reid took to the senate floor this morning to, shall we say, let boehner have it. >> if we go over the cliff, and it looks like that's where we're headed, mr. president, the house of representatives as we speak, with four days left after today before the first of the year aren't here with the speaker having told them they'll have -- they'll give them 48 hours' notice. the american people i don't think understand the house of representatives is operating...
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Dec 14, 2012
12/12
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. >> senate majority leader harry reid also pointed out democrats can't sit around and negotiate with themselves. >> i understand the house is gone again. i think one reason they're asking to leave is so more republicans walking down the hall won't be saying i think what somebody's doing is wrong. but they're leaving. it's hard to comprehend. but they are. we have nothing to do until they do something. >> democrats aren't the only ones putting the blame on republicans. departing tea party senator from south carolina jim demint intends to be a fly in the ointment for both parties. >> i think both parties have failed our country. i know what the american public has been told. the president campaigned on raising taxes and getting rid of the bush era tax cuts. and he's going to get his wish. i believe we're going to be raising taxes not just on the top earners. everyone's going to pay more taxes next year in this country. and i think that's what the president wants. >> it's hard for john boehner to convince his members about reaching a deal when guys like demint are saying a deal is impos
. >> senate majority leader harry reid also pointed out democrats can't sit around and negotiate with themselves. >> i understand the house is gone again. i think one reason they're asking to leave is so more republicans walking down the hall won't be saying i think what somebody's doing is wrong. but they're leaving. it's hard to comprehend. but they are. we have nothing to do until they do something. >> democrats aren't the only ones putting the blame on republicans....